The adopted son of Julius Caesar was Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and all of the successors in the family used the name Caesar. The term became synonymous with the Roman Emperors and each succeeding emperor retained the name "Caesar" as part of their title. Refer to the comprehensive List of Roman Emperorsfor the names of the most famous Romans, their dynasties and the historic eras of all the Roman Emperors and usurpers. Read about the life of Claudius who can be described, or remembered, as:

 "The bumbling man who became Emperor against all odds and married the infamous Messalina"

Short Biography about the life of Claudius
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Claudius, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Claudius
• Latin Roman Name: Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Britannicus AD 44)
• Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: January 24 41 AD –October 13, 54 AD
• Dynasty / Historical Period: Julio–Claudian
• Place and Date of Birth: August 1 10 BC in Lugdunum
• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Claudius was Caligula
• Date succeeded as Emperor of Rome and circumstances of rule: 54 AD
• Family connections / Genealogy of Claudius
  • Name of Father: Nero Claudius Drusus
  • Name of Mother: Antonia Minor
  • Claudius Married:
    • Plautia Urgulanilla, AD 9–24
    • Aelia Paetina, AD 28–31
    • Messalina, AD 38–48
    • Agrippina the Younger, AD 49–54
  • Children of Claudius:
    • Claudius Drusus (died in childhood)
    • Claudia Antonia
    • Claudia Octavia
• Place and Date of Death: Claudius died October 13, 54 (age 63) and was buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus
• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Claudius was Nerowho was his stepson by 4th wife, Agrippina the Younger 

Why was Claudius famous? Accomplishments, achievements and important events:
The Emperor Claudius was the son of Drusus and Antonia, and the brother of Germanicus. He was fifty-one years old when, after the murder of Caligula, the Praetorian Guard raised him to the throne. His health had always been delicate and he had never taken any part in public affairs. Claudius was fond of letters, and wrote memoirs of his own time and histories in Greek of Etruria and of Carthage. Claudius also made various useful laws, and carried out several public works of importance. He completed the Claudian aqueduct, begun by Caligula, and built a fort and light-house at Ostia, and a tunnel from Lake Lucinus to the River Liris. Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) was raised by his orders to the most important military station in Lower Germany. In A.D. 43 a Roman army invaded Britain. Claudius himself entered that country soon after, and returned to Rome in triumph. His first acts were popular and mild, but, having fallen under the control of his wife Messalina he put to death many of the best of the Romans. When, however, Messalina ventured to marry C. Silius, a young Roman knight, Claudius directed her execution. Claudius then married his niece Agrippina, who prevailed upon him to set aside his son Britannicus, and to adopt her own son Nero. Claudius became suspicious of the ambitions of his wife for Nero and she resolved to have Claudius killed. Locusta, a noted poisoner, was hired to prepare a dish of poisoned mushrooms, of which Claudius ate: but the poison not proving fatal, the physician Xenophon forced a larger quantity into his throat and Claudius died October 13, A.D. 54.

The Julian-Claudian Dynasty - 27 BC to AD 68
The Julian-Claudian Dynasty spanned 27 BC to AD 68. This dynasty is known as the Julio-Claudians because its Emperors belonged to the patrician families called the Julii and the Claudii. Some of the most famous of all of the emperors belonged to this dynasty including Julius Caesar, the Dictator and the first Roman Emperor, Octavian (Augustus) Caesar who was followed by Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.